Daily Bread Acts 1
Daily Bread Acts 1
Acts 1
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Observation:
The book of Acts starts with the author (we know this is Dr. Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke) telling Theophilus the purpose of the book. While the Gospel of Luke recorded all that Jesus said and did before he died and rose again, the book of Acts tells us about the beginning of the church, led by the apostles who were empowered by the power of and gift of the Holy Spirit. This was the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised would come to them after He left.
When Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples thought that Jesus might be restoring the kingdom of Israel. But Jesus made it clear it was not for us to know the date and time when He would return, but that this date is set by His Father in Heaven. The disciples were simply told to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Spirit, and then they would be his witnesses starting in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and then to the end of the earth.
At the end of the passage Jesus is taken back up into heaven (called the Ascension). Two angels tell the apostles that Jesus will return in this same way when He comes again.
Application:
The book of Acts records the great transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the birthday of the Church. As we study the book of Acts, many feel that the Church in the 21st century could learn a lot from the Ancient Church in the 1st century. As we note the key aspects of this missional community led by the Holy Spirit; we can look for ways to renew the Church today.
One of the first items of business for the apostles was to pick a successor for Judas, who betrayed Jesus. As they gathered for the first business meeting of the Church, one thing was pervasive as they sought God’s will for this important decision, prayer. It says they were praying constantly when they met for the first time. As they prayed two men surfaced as candidates to be the next apostle, who would be an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus. So they prayed and cast lots, and Matthias was chosen as the 12 apostle.
The early church showed that for important decisions, much prayer is needed. And in casting lots they eventually allowed the decision to rest in God’s hands. This shows a tremendous reliance on God and understanding God’s will through prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we face important decisions of leadership in the church we should do the same.
Prayer: God help us to learn from your first apostles how to be leaders in Your church. Forgive us for not praying as much as we should, to discern your will for who would lead us into the future. May all of our important decisions be bathed in prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill us and guide us to be your apostles today in the 21st century. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Acts 1
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Observation:
The book of Acts starts with the author (we know this is Dr. Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke) telling Theophilus the purpose of the book. While the Gospel of Luke recorded all that Jesus said and did before he died and rose again, the book of Acts tells us about the beginning of the church, led by the apostles who were empowered by the power of and gift of the Holy Spirit. This was the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised would come to them after He left.
When Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, the disciples thought that Jesus might be restoring the kingdom of Israel. But Jesus made it clear it was not for us to know the date and time when He would return, but that this date is set by His Father in Heaven. The disciples were simply told to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Spirit, and then they would be his witnesses starting in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and then to the end of the earth.
At the end of the passage Jesus is taken back up into heaven (called the Ascension). Two angels tell the apostles that Jesus will return in this same way when He comes again.
Application:
The book of Acts records the great transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to the birthday of the Church. As we study the book of Acts, many feel that the Church in the 21st century could learn a lot from the Ancient Church in the 1st century. As we note the key aspects of this missional community led by the Holy Spirit; we can look for ways to renew the Church today.
One of the first items of business for the apostles was to pick a successor for Judas, who betrayed Jesus. As they gathered for the first business meeting of the Church, one thing was pervasive as they sought God’s will for this important decision, prayer. It says they were praying constantly when they met for the first time. As they prayed two men surfaced as candidates to be the next apostle, who would be an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus. So they prayed and cast lots, and Matthias was chosen as the 12 apostle.
The early church showed that for important decisions, much prayer is needed. And in casting lots they eventually allowed the decision to rest in God’s hands. This shows a tremendous reliance on God and understanding God’s will through prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we face important decisions of leadership in the church we should do the same.
Prayer: God help us to learn from your first apostles how to be leaders in Your church. Forgive us for not praying as much as we should, to discern your will for who would lead us into the future. May all of our important decisions be bathed in prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit, fill us and guide us to be your apostles today in the 21st century. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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